The WRX and its STI sibling are affordable, high-performance,
all-wheel-drive turbocharged rally rockets, and the pair have long been
enthusiast darlings. But if these spy photos do in fact show a nearly
production-ready 2014 WRX well, let’s just say we’d be very sad pandas.
Subaru had stated that the concept was a solid indication of where the
production WRX would go, and the claim seemed more than plausible given
that the WRX will ditch its association with the Impreza and get a
unique platform. Plainly stated, this car doesn’t look like the show
car.

Of
course, Subaru has played this game before, launching the delectable
Impreza concept at the 2012 L.A. show in advance of the far dowdier
production model. The headlight design and big hexagonal grille on this
car match those of the concept, but it otherwise is essentially a
current-generation Impreza sedan with a giant wing swiped from today’s
STI and an intake on the hood. The prototype’s key dimensions seem to
shadow those of the Impreza, and it doesn’t appear as though any of the
economy sedan’s hard points were changed here, which would let some of
the air out of the “unique platform” balloon. Source